Doing it on the Cheap: Corona Mill
Anybody who's used one of the roller type malt mills knows that most of them are made with a passive 2nd roller that makes grinding whole corn an exercise in frustration — the corn kernels just spin on top of the rollers instead of being pulled into it. And you may also be aware of the cost of one with a gear drive option that works with corn can be quite expensive. The old, comparatively inexpensive "Corona" type mills (made under different names), have been a staple among brewers, homemakers, etc., for a long time. They feed with an auger, not pinch rollers, and will feed whole kernel corn through it. Brewers complain that the hopper is small, and the grind uneven and have come up with their own solutions/mods for this. Homemakers complain that it just doesnt' go fine enough for a suitable flour without running it through several times.
None of those things are really much of an issue for the homedistiller looking to rough grind/crack corn or to make a coarse meal. The 2 larger problems for this mill for homedistiller would be that it's got a small hopper on top (2lbs at a time), and it's a hand cranker, and doesn't readily mount, or sit, over a bucket or other large container where — the plates are on the side, so the output can literally "spray" dust/corn if you run it hard (ie., with a drill).
Here's one idea, found on Homebrewtalk forums posted by Wilserbrewer, on how to make a selfcontained bucket system for your Corona mill that looks like it works a treat and would be very cheap to build: corona mill, 6 gallon plastic bucket with sturdy lid, scrap of 2x4, 6 drywall screws, large plastic bottle or funnel for hopper, and whatever is needed to chuck your drill to the shaft.
You start by cutting a scrap piece of 2x4 to fit in the bucket and notch it to mount the Corona. It sits "down" in the bucket so the very top of the mill (with hopper removed) is sitting about 3/4 inch or so under the very top and is screwed in place through the bucket into the 2x4 using drywall screws. A hole is drilled for the drive shaft so it will protrude from the side where a drill can mount to it.
Then, drill a hole directly over the hopper opening, and use an exacto knife to cut approximately 10 pie/wedge slices from the hole so that the top of your new hopper (a plastic water bottle, funnel or other device you wish to use), is held firmly in place and sits down "in" the metal hopper base of the Corona.
The final product:
Author says, you can mark grain amounts on whatever you use for a large hopper (plastic bottle, funnel, etc) so you no longer have to weigh each time....just fill hopper to line and let her rip. Claims the mounting holds it firmly in place no problems (but that is with malt...corn may give it a bit more torquing. I'd use 3 screws per side). The cover keeps dust down and everything in the bucket when run at speed. When finished, remove the top, and just pour the gristed corn out the other side. Out of all the mounting, etc., options I've seen for the Corona type mills, this is probably the best one I've seen that incorporates automated (drill) operation. Thought I'd share it here, with credit to Wilserbrewer from Homebrewtalk forums for the idea.
